Galactic Costuming: Emily Schram’s Cool Captain Rex Cosplay
Featured

Galactic Costuming is a feature that highlights members of
fan groups from around the world who, literally, wear their love
of Star Wars in the form of trooper armor, rebel pilot
flightsuits, and much more.

Emily Schram can’t pinpoint the first time she saw Star
Wars, but she recalls being impressed by the cantina scene in
A New Hope. She tells StarWars.com, “I remember being
fascinated by all the aliens and the music and the immediate
immersion of the scene.” Though she admits she got Star
Wars and Spaceballs mixed up when she was a kid, she
definitely has them straight now and shows her Star Wars
fandom through participating in costuming organizations.

Schram’s a member of both the Rebel Legion and the 501st Legion, specifically Terrapin Base
and Old Line Garrison, respectively. She joined these groups five
years ago. Her first costume to get approved was phase one Captain
Rex. The Rex kit is unique because it can be part of the 501st
Legion’s Clone Trooper Detachment and the Rebel Legion’s Clones of
the Republic. She’s trooped as Rex at over 100 events.

Completing her Captain Rex costume was a journey. Schram says
her first kit took her almost two years and a lot of help from
others. But phase two Rex? She built it on her own. She explains,
“He took a little over two months and over 400 hours to complete.
The armor is made out of vacuum formed ABS plastic, while the
helmet is a resin cast. Since clone armor is seamless, all the
seams were filled with CA glue and Bondo and then heavily sanded. I
also used rare Earth magnets to hold several pieces in place, like
the pauldron and helmet back panel. The kama (skirt) is made of
marine vinyl and was commissioned.”

Schram set a goal to finish her Rex costume before Star
Wars Celebration Orlando, but she procrastinated long enough
that she was forced to work outdoors in Maryland in February, which
as you can imagine, was cold. That didn’t deter her from finishing
the project. Schram admits, “I spent many hours outside in the snow
trimming, sanding, and gluing.”

Luckily, other members of the Legion had armor parties —
gatherings where members get together to work on armor and share
resources and knowledge — and she used those events to work on
sizing the armor to her frame. Schram says she leaned on advice
from others throughout the process. “I was in constant contact with
my ‘clone brothers,’ Andrew Simansky and Greg Butcher, both of whom
were always willing to send me pictures of their builds or offer
advice on how to fit the armor to my shorter, female frame,” she
shares. “But the greatest assistance was from my husband, Andrew
Schram. Even though he didn’t know anything about armor, he learned
how to use Bondo and sanders so he could work on some pieces with
me. He also helped me through the stress and melt downs as I sat
teary-eyed in a pile of plastic from time to time.”

In addition to phase one and phase two Captain Rex, Schram’s
making additional costumes. She’s working on a clone officer
ensemble she hopes to get approved by the 501st Legion and a
Chewbacca costume for the Rebel Legion. She’s also putting together
an unofficial Willrow Hood costume.

As mentioned before, Schram, a.k.a. CC-9529 or Lady Rex, has
participated in numerous troops. She’s extremely active in her
groups, trooping several times a month. “Within the Clone Trooper
Detachment, I have over 100 recorded troops, earning the highest
rank of Living Legend,” she says. “I am the Commanding Officer for
Old Line Garrison, two years running, and a member of the Rebel
Legion’s Terrapin Base. I’m also on command staff for the Clone
Trooper Detachment with the Merch & Branding Team and as the
East Coast Regional Commander with clones.”

She can’t pick one thing about costuming organizations that make
them so wonderful, but she summarizes: “At some events you feel
like a rock star, posing for pictures or rocking out on stage with
Weird Al. At others, you meet a child that shines with so much life
and joy that you can’t help by smile for days. Still others remind
you why you put so much money and time into the hobby as you hold
the hand of child fighting cancer or stand vigil at their memorial
service. Through it all there is one great thing that connects
these memories: family. When you become a member and get to know
your garrison and detachment mates, you also step into an
international family. You can lean on these people and will always
receive support, whether with armor or with real life. Clones have
a saying, ‘Brothers in arms are brothers for life,’ and you
definitely feel it.”

Amy Ratcliffe is a writer obsessed with Star
Wars, Disney, and coffee. Follow her on Twitter
at @amy_geek.

Galactic Costuming is a feature that highlights members of
fan groups from around the world who, literally, wear their love
of Star Wars in the form of trooper armor, rebel pilot
flightsuits, and much more.

Emily Schram can’t pinpoint the first time she saw Star
Wars, but she recalls being impressed by the cantina scene in
A New Hope. She tells StarWars.com, “I remember being
fascinated by all the aliens and the music and the immediate
immersion of the scene.” Though she admits she got Star
Wars and Spaceballs mixed up when she was a kid, she
definitely has them straight now and shows her Star Wars
fandom through participating in costuming organizations.

Schram’s a member of both the Rebel Legion and the 501st Legion, specifically Terrapin Base
and Old Line Garrison, respectively. She joined these groups five
years ago. Her first costume to get approved was phase one Captain
Rex. The Rex kit is unique because it can be part of the 501st
Legion’s Clone Trooper Detachment and the Rebel Legion’s Clones of
the Republic. She’s trooped as Rex at over 100 events.

Completing her Captain Rex costume was a journey. Schram says
her first kit took her almost two years and a lot of help from
others. But phase two Rex? She built it on her own. She explains,
“He took a little over two months and over 400 hours to complete.
The armor is made out of vacuum formed ABS plastic, while the
helmet is a resin cast. Since clone armor is seamless, all the
seams were filled with CA glue and Bondo and then heavily sanded. I
also used rare Earth magnets to hold several pieces in place, like
the pauldron and helmet back panel. The kama (skirt) is made of
marine vinyl and was commissioned.”

Schram set a goal to finish her Rex costume before Star
Wars Celebration Orlando, but she procrastinated long enough
that she was forced to work outdoors in Maryland in February, which
as you can imagine, was cold. That didn’t deter her from finishing
the project. Schram admits, “I spent many hours outside in the snow
trimming, sanding, and gluing.”

Luckily, other members of the Legion had armor parties —
gatherings where members get together to work on armor and share
resources and knowledge — and she used those events to work on
sizing the armor to her frame. Schram says she leaned on advice
from others throughout the process. “I was in constant contact with
my ‘clone brothers,’ Andrew Simansky and Greg Butcher, both of whom
were always willing to send me pictures of their builds or offer
advice on how to fit the armor to my shorter, female frame,” she
shares. “But the greatest assistance was from my husband, Andrew
Schram. Even though he didn’t know anything about armor, he learned
how to use Bondo and sanders so he could work on some pieces with
me. He also helped me through the stress and melt downs as I sat
teary-eyed in a pile of plastic from time to time.”

In addition to phase one and phase two Captain Rex, Schram’s
making additional costumes. She’s working on a clone officer
ensemble she hopes to get approved by the 501st Legion and a
Chewbacca costume for the Rebel Legion. She’s also putting together
an unofficial Willrow Hood costume.

As mentioned before, Schram, a.k.a. CC-9529 or Lady Rex, has
participated in numerous troops. She’s extremely active in her
groups, trooping several times a month. “Within the Clone Trooper
Detachment, I have over 100 recorded troops, earning the highest
rank of Living Legend,” she says. “I am the Commanding Officer for
Old Line Garrison, two years running, and a member of the Rebel
Legion’s Terrapin Base. I’m also on command staff for the Clone
Trooper Detachment with the Merch & Branding Team and as the
East Coast Regional Commander with clones.”

She can’t pick one thing about costuming organizations that make
them so wonderful, but she summarizes: “At some events you feel
like a rock star, posing for pictures or rocking out on stage with
Weird Al. At others, you meet a child that shines with so much life
and joy that you can’t help by smile for days. Still others remind
you why you put so much money and time into the hobby as you hold
the hand of child fighting cancer or stand vigil at their memorial
service. Through it all there is one great thing that connects
these memories: family. When you become a member and get to know
your garrison and detachment mates, you also step into an
international family. You can lean on these people and will always
receive support, whether with armor or with real life. Clones have
a saying, ‘Brothers in arms are brothers for life,’ and you
definitely feel it.”

Amy Ratcliffe is a writer obsessed with Star
Wars, Disney, and coffee. Follow her on Twitter
at @amy_geek.